Archive for February, 2013

The post below was half baked…..and then the pace of my very busy weekend swept me away like a tsunami and — poof — March was gone. The majority of March was an Emmaus blur — Men’s walk 141, Women’s walk 142 and REC prison walk 16. It is now April but I am posting this back on Feb 27 where I intended it to be:

I am about 72 hours into a very busy, non-stop week of constant activity. It started early Monday morning with a 6am visit to my local radio station WJIE for a stint answering the phones during their annual fundraiser Share-A-Thon. I have volunteered for a few years now and always find it fulfilling and fun. They are a great local ministry resource and I am humbled they let me get involved physically and financially. After doing that for 2 hours I had to hit my day job to pay the bills. That was exciting because there was still spillover elation from a product launch that occurred Friday. The FDA had approved a first in class product that is basically a smart bomb for breast cancer. It is pretty cool stuff and I was blessed enough to be on the launch team. Even better was that we, as a company, were able to get product down to a patient to be dosed at UCLA who opened on a Saturday for just that event!

Immediately after work I headed up to an evening formation meeting. The team I am a part of is preparing physically and spiritually for a prison ministry weekend at the end of March. Each week we gather to worship, pray, organize, preview talks and generally get the team ready for what God has in store for us in spreading the gospel behind bars. It is my first experience with this group and this type of ministry and, while intimidating, it has been a very inspiring and energetic process. I cannot wait to see what God has in store and what hearts will be touched.

That time was very well spent but it resulted in me getting home at 10:30pm — too late to see my family and it made for a long 17 hour day. Tuesday morning was a repeat of Monday — getting up early and out the door to make the 6am radio phone volunteer gig. Repeat the going to work without the excitement of a product launch — although every day is important when it means getting medicine to patients in need. Follow that with a weekly Scouts meeting and it made for another long follow up day to Monday. Luckily, I was home around 8:30pm when everyone was still awake so I enjoyed seeing my kids and wife.

Again, a half baked post, but that was the reality back then. And zippo posts for March, even though it was VERY rich spiritually.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Back when we lived in CA we made a decision to stop watching TV news. It was always so negative. It was always so depressing. It was not reflective of what we saw in our lives or community. And it always seemed to take up 30 minutes no matter whether it was a slow news day or there was lots going on.

But every so often there are some good snippets out there. The clip below is one of them. I would watch a whole newscast if this is all they showed.

Here is a link to the article — http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57570865/act-of-sportsmanship-gives-texas-high-schooler-shot-at-glory/

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

My wife sent this to my work email this morning. It cracked me up but also touched my heart.

Conversation last night in the car:

D: Mom I am going to be a police officer when I grow up, is that OK?
Me: Whatever you want.
D: I am asking because of dad.
Me: Dad will want you to follow your dreams.
D: But it’s going to be really really awkward when I am giving him a ticket for speeding, like 20 minutes of awkward.
Me: Then maybe you show show him some grace.
D: No mom I want him to slow down because I love him.

I guess I need to slow down. Not because my son might one day give me a ticket, but because he loves me and is concerned. That should be enough motivation for anyone.

Now, what in your world do you need to stop doing? Because Jesus loves YOU and He is concerned.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

The quote below was in this last Sunday’s sermon. The series of 4 is only halfway done and already very impactful. Last week’s sermon with an illustration of our life as a mist (referring to James 4:14) really hit home the point that our time here on earth is very brief….. and what are we doing about it that will have eternal impact. What I took away from it was the only actions and decisions in my life that eternally matter aren’t my career, my house, my money, my clothes — they are my choice to accept Jesus as my Savior and my actions that point others to Jesus. Everything else is temporary to this world.

The quote I found particularly profound was:

“If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then your time on earth is the closest you will ever be to hell.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then your time on earth is the closest you’ll ever be to heaven.”

You can go watch or listen to the sermon series here — http://www.southeastchristian.org/default.aspx?page=4754&series=46.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

God is calling you. He LOVES you!

What will your response be?

It has eternal implications.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Happy Valentines Day!!!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

While traveling last week, I heard a cool bit on KLOVE as I was getting ready for the day. It was three things you can say to your kids.

They were:

  • Do you need a hug?
  • Do you want to talk about it?
  • I’m so happy to see you.

As soon as I returned home, I started with the last one.

See link here — http://www.klove.com/blog/post/2013/02/07/3-Statements-to-Change-Your-Kids-Lives.aspx

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Salvation stories and testimonies can be powerful. The link below is an interesting read. Whether it is the stories in the Bible of unlikely heroes — the sold to slavery boy turned into Pharaoh’s right hand man, the puny youngest son David transformed into a king after God’s own heart, or the poverty stricken virgin Mary giving birth to our Saviour Jesus — or a modern day version of redemption, God specializes in taking the broken, the powerless, the prideful, the unpopular or the least of these and redeeming, loving, healing and saving them into His kingdom to reveal His glory and mercy.

While my testimony is not so spectacular, I am thankful God, in His everlasting mercy, grace and love, redeemed me through Christ.

Read the story here — http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/january-february/my-train-wreck-conversion.html?paging=off

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I saw this video at an Emmaus gathering. It is so simple and yet so profound. I promise it will make you smile. Enjoy!

The singer/songwriter’s site can be found at http://www.wendyfrancisco.com/

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net